Anchor post



July 1957 e. E. WALTON 2,799,369

ANCHOR POST Filed Aug. 17, 1953 v mvsmon GUY E. WA LTO N ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to fencing such as used to enclose fields of farms and other areas, and in particular a post having anchoring means in combination therewith in which the post is adapted to be used in a corner of a fence, or as an intermediate post, and when used as an intermediate post it is adapted to be braced on one, or both sides.

The purpose of this invention is to obviate the arduous task of setting fence posts by digging post holes and ramming soil in around posts in the holes, such as is required in conventional fencing.

Building a new fence is always a problem as digging post holes is hard work, and ramming the soil in around a post to give a post sufficient rigidity to support a fence requires hard labor. Furthermore, the resultant force required to be taken by a post when wire is stretched until it is substantially straight places a heavy burden on corner posts, and where means is provided to compensate for this load it is possible to place intermediate posts of a fence a greater distance apart.

With these thoughts in mind this invention contemplates anchoring means for corner posts and also for intermediate posts whereby posts may be positioned for supporting a fence without digging post holes and without the necessity of ramming soil in around the posts.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a fence post and mounting means therefor in which the post is rigidly anchored to the ground without digging post holes and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide rigid anchoring means for fence posts in which the posts are adapted to be moved to change the location of a fence.

Another important object is to provide anchoring means for a fence post in which the anchoring means is adapted to remain permanently in the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide anchoring means for fence posts in which the anchoring means holds the posts with such rigidity that intermediate posts of a fence may be spaced greater distances apart than posts of conventional fencing, without increasing sag of wire carried by the posts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an anchor post for fencing wherein with the parts formed of galvanized iron the life of the post is extended indefinitely whereby upkeep of a fence is substantially eliminated and the time and cost of replacement are both reduced to a minimum.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide an improved anchor post for fencing in which the anchor post is of a simple andeconomical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a post, preferably tubular, removably mounted on a hollow base, with the base anchored to the ground with an auger, and with the post braced with diagonal bracing and guy wires, the braces and wires also being anchored to the ground with spikes extended through convex discs.

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Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a corner post adapted to hold a fence with the diagonal braces and guy wires positioned at an angle of 90 Figure 2 is an exploded view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the lower end of a post, the hollow base, and an auger for anchoring the base to the ground, the base being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a detail, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing an elevational view of one of the brace and guy wire anchors.

Figure 4 is a section through the neck of the hollow base of the post, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking upwardly and showing clamps for connecting the post to the base.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in the construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and in which the numeral 8 refers to the invention in its entirety, and the numeral 10 to a post which is mounted on a base 12, with the base secured in position in the ground by an anger 14, and with the post supported with braces 16 and 18 and guy wires 20 and 22, the ends of the braces and Wires being anchored with discs 24 and spikes 26.

The lower ends of the posts are provided with bayonet slots having vertically disposed sections 28 and 30, and horizontally disposed sections 32 and 34, respectively, and the base or plate 12 of the base is provided with a neck 36 having oppositely disposed openings 38 and 40 therein with studs 42 and 44 in the openings and positioned to register with the vertical sections of the bayonet slots, whereby as the post is mounted on the base the sections 28 and 30 of the slots receive the studs. With continued movement of the post the studs are aligned with the sections 32 and 34 of the slots so that upon turning the post in a clockwise direction the studs pass into the closed ends of the slots. The inner ends of the studs are provided with arcuate plates 46 and 48, respectively and nuts 50 are threaded on the outer ends. By this means the post is rigidly clamped in position upon the base.

Before attaching the post to the base the base is implanted in the soil and secured in position by the anchoring member for auger 14, the shaft 52 of which extends through the neck 36 of the base end, as shown in Figure 2, the shaft of the auger is provided with a disc 54 that bears against the upper end of the neck. The upper end 56 of the shaft is flattened and provided with an opening providing an eye 58 through which a rod or tool may be inserted to facilitate rotating the auger to draw the base into the soil. The screw portion of the anger is formed with arcuate plates 60 and 62, which are positioned to form screw threads whereby upon rotation of the auger the threads draw a flange 64 depending from the periphery of a plate forming the top of the base into the ground. It will be understood that at least two of the screw plates are used, and it will be noted that the lower end of the shaft of the auger is provided with a point 66. e

In the design shown the base is in the form of a friangle having sharp points 68 that facilitate gripping in the ground. It will be understood, however, that the base may be of any other suitable shape. The base is placed upon the ground in the desired position at a corner, or in a fence row and upon rotation of the auger 14 the disc 54, which is secured to the auger, preferably by welding, draws the flange of the base into the ground.

The anchoring means for the braces 16 and 18includes the convex discs 24, which are substantially saucershaped, and the discs are provided with centrally positioned openings that register with openings 72 in the lower ends of the braces, and also with openings 74 in the ends of fastening bars 76, positioned between the braces. and discs whereby the spikes 26 may be driven through the braces, bars, and discs into the ground, as shown in Figure 3. The opposite ends of the bars 76 are provided with openings 78 through which the guy wires 20 and 22 are secured to the anchors of the braces.

The upper ends 80 and 82 of the braces are flattened so that the ends may extend between flanges of a clamp on the post. The clamp on the post is formed with arcuate strips 84 and 86 with a flange 88 at one end of the strip 84 positioned to coact with a flange 90 of the strip 86 to receive a bolt 92 that extends through the end 82 of the brace 18 whereby the upper end of the brace is secured to the clamp. A similar flange 94 on the opposite end of the strip 84 coacts with a flange 96 of the strip 86 to receive a bolt 98 to secure the upper end of the brace 16 to the clamp.

The guy wires 20 and 22 extend from the openings 78 of the bars 76 to eyes 100 and 102 of turnbuckles 104 and 106, respectively, and eyes 108 and 110 at the opposite ends of the turnbuckles are connected to loops 112 and 114, respectively, which are positioned around the lower end of the post.

With the parts assembled in this manner the base 12 and discs 24 are implanted in the ground with the auger 14 retaining the base in position and with the spikes 26 holding the discs. For corner posts the braces are posi tioned at 90 and when it is desired to use anchor posts of this type in a fence row the braces extend from one, or both of the sides.

With the posts in position wires may be stretched on the posts and with the posts firmly anchored in this man ner wires may be stretched a greater distance than on conventional posts, and the distances between the intermediate posts may be increased.

Fence posts, as provided by this invention may readily be initially positioned and, as is frequently necessary in modern farming, a fence may be moved from one location to another, by dismantling the corner and intermediate posts and setting the posts up in the new location. With the posts rigidly supported by the braces and guy wires a fence is not readily pushed over by livestock so that one is assured of having an upright fence continuously.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device considering what it will accomplish and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear under standing of the invention after considering the descrip- 4 tion in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and arrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a fence post, the combination which comprises a mounting base including a plate having a continuous depending flange on the peripheral edge and having a neck with studs therein extended upwardly from the intermediate part, said mounting base being formed to be positioned on the ground, an auger having a disc on the upper end extended through the neck and mounting base and positioned with the disc on the upper end of the neck, a tubular post having slots in the lower end positioned over the neck with the studs extended through the slots thereof, a clamp on the post, a brace having a disc on the lower end attached to the clamp, means for anchoring the disc on the lower end of the brace in the ground, and a guy wire extended from the post to the disc on the lower end of the brace.

2. In a fence post, the combination which comprises a mounting base including a plate having a continuous depending flange on the periphery and having a circular neck having studs therein extended upwardly from the intermediate part, an anger having a shaft extended upwardly therefrom extended through the neck and base and said shaft having an eye in the upper end and a disc spaced downwardly from the eye, thereon, said disc being positioned to engage the upper end of the neck to clamp the base upon the ground, a tubular post having bayonet slots in the lower end mounted on the neck and secured to the base with the studs, a clamp on the post and spaced upwardly from the lower end, a brace attached to the clamp and extended outwardly from the post, means for anchoring the extended end of the brace to the ground, a guy wire extended from the lower end of the post to the lower end of the brace, and adjusting means in said guy wire.

3. In a fence post assembly, the combination which comprises a triangular-shaped mounting base having a depending peripheral flange and having a cylindrical neck with studs therein extended upwardly from the upper surface, an anger having an extended shaft positioned in the neck and base, said auger having an eye for receiving a rod for turning in the upper end of the shaft and having a disc spaced below the eye and secured to the shaft, the disc being adapted to engage the upper end of the neck for clamping the base against the surface of the ground, a tubular post having bayonet slots in the lower end positioned over the neck with the studs extended through the slots, nuts threaded on the studs for securing the post to the base, a clamp positioned on the post and spaced upwardly above the lower end thereof, a brace attached to the clamp and extended outwardly and downwardly therefrom, an inverted saucer-shaped disc upon which the end of the brace is positioned, a bar positioned between the disc and lower end of the brace, and a guy wire having a turnbuckle therein connecting the bar between the disc and end of the brace to the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,617 Williams Dec. 17, 1889 565,966 Deck Aug. 18, 1896 568,948 Hill Oct. 6, 1896 1,195,192 Fellows Aug. 22, 1916 1,981,447 Clark Nov. 20, 1934 2,107,589 Trail Feb. 8, 1939 

